More Articles

A veteran Columbus police officer has been fired following his arrest in the summer and
indictment last week on federal drug charges.

Stevie Billups, 48, was terminated on Tuesday for not showing up for work, police officials
said. He has been in jail since his arrest in July. Yesterday, he pleaded not guilty in U.S.
District Court to charges of money laundering, attempted distribution of heroin and carrying a gun
during a drug-trafficking crime.

A federal complaint says that Billups was investigated by the FBI and the Ohio Casino Control
Commission after investigators noticed he frequently met a suspected drug dealer at Hollywood
Casino Columbus.

Agents enlisted the drug suspect in a sting operation. The suspect had Billups protect him while
he picked up an illegal drug payment and a car said to be loaded with heroin, the complaint
said.

Billups was an officer for nearly 22 years, most recently in the robbery unit. His personnel
file lists positive reviews from prosecutors and accolades from residents for his work as a
community liaison officer. His file says he was investigated in 2009 when his wages were garnished
after he had stopped making payments on a $25,000 loan to buy a Lexus.

The federal complaint against Billups said he bought more than $100,000 in chips at Hollywood
Casino in less than a year and had been there more than 100 times, often during his work shift.

Federal magistrate Norah McCann King denied bail for Billups in July. His attorney, Mark C.
Collins, did not request another bond hearing yesterday.